16 I MBJ I June 28, 2013
BIG BUSINESS
PROFILE: TOMMY DULANEY
‘Gentle Giant’ Âť Soft-spoken steel man well-respected in his industry, his Meridian community cility and purchase equipment. Over the years, Dulaney bought out the two partners, who are now decreased, and is now Tommy Dulaney is well-respected the sole owner. The business has grown by leaps and statewide for taking an initial $60,000 investment in Meridian’s Structural Steel bounds, and now has 800,000 square feet Services in 1975 into a business today that of manufacturing space. “We can’t ever specializes in building structural steel for seem to get enough room,â€? Dulaney said. One of the company’s main products is power plants, steel mills and other industries worldwide. But while building SSS steel fabricated for air pollution control. “Since 1970, when coal-fired power into a business employing 330, Dulaney has found time to volunteer, including plants had to start cleaning up, air pollution serving as chairman of the Mississippi control has been about 75 percent of our Economic Council and the Mississippi market,â€? Dulaney said. “Back in the 1990s, 50 to 60 percent of what we fabricated Manufacturers Association. “He has a very quiet dignity about him, went to Southeast Asia — China, Indonesaid Jay Moon, president and CEO of sia, Thailand — until their financial crisis hit in 1998. We currently have plant MMA. “Everybody recognizes him in Philippines that is doing some as an extremely savvy business peradditional boilers that is asking us son who has taken the fortune he to bid. We are so busy in this counhas been able to make, and made it try, I don’t know if we are going to work for the community. be able to bid that job or not.â€? “He has invested a lot of time and Products for foreign customers resources in charitable activities. He are shipped out of the Port of is very involved with the Meridian Pascaguola. But one of the bigger Community College establishing customers in recent years has been programs there that are quite a tesclose to home at the Mississippi tament to his belief in people, and Tommy Dulaney Power Company Kemper County building a stronger community, recoal gasification plant. “We have provided gion and state.â€? MEC president Blake Wilson said Du- 25,000 to 26,000 tons of steel for the gasilaney stands as a gentle giant among state fier building at the Kemper Plant where lignite fuel will be gasified to burn in the business leaders. “He is unselfishly committed to his plant,â€? Dulaney said. “Our capacity is about community and his fellow citizens,â€? Wil- 50,000 to 60,000 tons per year. At any son said. “He is also a quiet cheerleader. given time, we have 10 to 15 jobs going on. Although he speaks with a soft voice, he We are doing work all across the country will say with a lilt of excitement in his tone right now. We are working on jobs in Ariabout various projects, ‘This is really going zona, Nevada, Utah, Ohio, Pennsylvania to be good for our community. We need and Wisconsin.â€? Dulaney, one of the largest industrial folks to get behind it and make it happen.’ employers in the area, credits his employAnd they do, following his lead.â€? Wilson said Dulaney has a folksy, unas- ees with making the company successful. “The key to my success has been the emsuming style. He speaks softly, but with ployees I was able to attract on the front great positive energy and influence. “He is also willing to roll up his sleeves end,â€? he said. “So many of our employees and work hard in serving on non-profit have stayed with us from the beginning. boards to tackle challenging problems and We have 10 or 12 who started with us who lead the way to make good progress,â€? Wil- are still here. Certainly you need to have son said. “Tommy is also successful in busi- good, loyal dedicated employees. Tony ness, consistently finding new ways to Dean, who started out at the bottom, is approach steel fabrication, implementing now general manager, executive vice presapproaches that deliver higher value to ident, and on the board of directors. Ancustomers who are often far beyond Mis- other long-time employee, Kane Combs, project manager, has been a very key emsissippi’s borders.â€? SSS started with the $60,000 invested ployee. Two other key employees here alby Dulaney and two silent partners, most since the beginning include Randy Sammy Davidson and Tommy Webb. They got a line of credit for $400,000 to See DULANEY, Page 20 buy land, build a 12,000-square-foot fa-
By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com
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